PV trustees OK bond refinancing but delay head-lice policy vote

Posted: Thursday, Oct 11th, 2012BY: TODD GUILD

WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday authorized the district’s business officials to pursue a plan to refinance a 2002 bond, which could save the district an estimated $1.3 million.

Refinancing the $58 million Measure J bond, which voters approved 10 years ago, would reduce the interest rate from 5.25 percent to 2.28 percent.

If the refinancing plan is approved, the reduction would mean a reduction in property tax rates for homeowners of about $10 in property taxes per $100,000 of estimated value, said PVUSD Chief Business Officer Brett McFadden.

The plan would not, however, affect the district’s budget.

McFadden said the refinancing process is an involved process, and wanted to gauge interest among the trustees before he proceeded.

“A lot of school districts do this because it’s good government and the right thing to do for taxpayers,” McFadden said.

McFadden said the refinancing plan will be ready for the trustees in about 30 days.

In other action, the trustees tabled a motion to change the district’s policy on how it deals with head lice infestations among students.

Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Ylda Nogueda said she has not had enough time to review the proposed policy.

Under the proposed policy, schools would no longer regularly monitor students for head lice, and children found with lice or louse eggs in their hair would be allowed to remain at school.

Traditionally, schools have regularly monitored their students for head lice, performing “nit checks” and sending infested students home until no nits were found in their hair.

But under policy suggestions adopted in September by the California Department of Public Health, such “no-nit” policies are based on misinformation, do nothing to prevent or shorten outbreaks and should be discontinued.

Instead, the Department of Public Health recommends a “no-lice” policy, which relies on parents and caregivers to regularly do the checks.